Monument



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 8, 1941- w. M. P. HALL MONUMENT Filed Feb. 15,1940 I Q IV-MPH? Patented July 8, 1941 uni-re n STAT-ES; PAT ENT orrlcsI William M. PiHall, Cerr o 'Gordo, 111., assignori of I one-halfto.Sctt..S..Dobson, Cerro Gordo, Ill.

Application February 15, 1940, Serial No. 319g16l 2 Claims. 91. 72-12)This invention relates to an improved construction of monument ortombstone formed from a plastic material such as cement and includingimproved meansfor reinforcing the plasticconstruction'to adapt it towithstand, without cracking; the expansion and contraction of the massresulting from changes in temperature.

More particularly, it is an aim of this invention to provide an improvedconstruction of concrete monument which may be economically manufacturedand sold and which may be constructed in various colors and shapes tosimulate stone or marble.

More particularly, it is an aim of this invention to provide a monumentor tombstone of concrete or similar plastic material including a bodyportion and an integrally formed supporting base having means to providefor expansion and contraction so that the monument can withstand changesof temperature without cracking.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter becomemore fully apparent from the following description of the drawings,which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a monument constructed inaccordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 4 is an enlarged substantially central longitudinal verticalsectional view of the monument,

Figure 5 is an enlarged, substantially central transverse verticalsectional View of the same,

Figure 6 is a perspective view. of the name plate, and I Figure 7 is aperspective view of the front plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, I!) designates generally the monument or tombstoneformed of a plastic material such as cement and including the bodyportion l I and the integral enlarged base 12.

As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the supporting base I2 is provided witha recess l3 extending upwardly from the bottom thereof which is ofsubstantially the same cross sectional dimensions as the body portionII. A concrete expansion block I4 is mounted in the recess l3, and asbest seen in Figures 4 and 5, the sides of the block M are spaced fromthe sides of the recess l3 to provide for expansion and contraction ofthe base portion l2 in response to changes in l5which are adapted to befilled with a'plastic binder l6 and through which extend correspondingends of perpendicular reinforcing rods I l the opposite ends of whichextend upwardly through the upper portion of the base [2 and to a pointadjacent the top of the body I l The rods I! are thus secured to theblock I4 by the binder 5 for connecting the block to the monument In. Inaddition to the rods ll, the monument I0 is provided with thereinforcing rods I8 which are perpendicularly disposed in the body H andextend into the upper portion of the base l2. The body H is alsoprovided with the horizontally disposed reinforcing rods l9 which aredisposed longitudinally within the body ll. Perpendicularly disposedreinforcing rods 20 are disposed in longitudinal rows in the base [2 oneither side of its recess IS. The rods ll, I8, [9 and 20 are molded intothe liquid mass of the monument at the time that it is formed.

The base I2 is also provided with the pipes or tubular reinforcingmembers 2| which are disposed longitudinally thereof on each side of therecess l3. The pipes 2| are arranged in staggered perpendicular rowswith the longitudinal rows of rods 20 disposed therebetween, as bestseen in Figure 5. The pipes or tubular members 2i in addition tofunctioning as reinforcing members also provide air spaces to allow forexpansion of the base I2. The pipes or tubular members 2! being moldedinto the liquid mass at the time that the monument I0 is formed, aretherefore provided with the downturned ends 22, as best seen in Figure4, so that the liquid mass will not fill the bores of the pipes 2|.

The front face of the body portion II is preferably provided with thespaced recesses 23 and 24 to receive the front piece or plate 25 and thename plate 26, respectively. Molded into the monument and opening intothe recesses 23 and 24, are internally threaded sockets 2'! to receivethe threaded fastenings 28 which extend through openings 29 in theplates 25 and 26 for detachably securing the plates in the recesses 23and 24, respectively. Plate or front piece 25 may be formed of marble,stone or wood or may be in the form of a frame containing a plate ofglass for containing the full name, dates of birth and death and otherpertinent information regarding the deceased, over whose remains thetombstone is disposed. The plate 26 is preferably formed of metal and isadapted to contain the family name of the plot in which the tombstone issituated or may contain other indicia such as the name or trade-mark ofthe manufacturer of the monument. By means of the fastenings 2B andsocket members 21, it will be readily seen that the plates 25 and 26 maybe readily removed and replaced so that any indicia to be inscribedthereon may be accomplished with the plates removed or if desired theplates may be removed and replaced with other plates of differentmaterials.

From the foregoing it will be seen, that the monument Ill whenconstructed, and even though formed of cement or other plastic material,will be durable and practical for use even in localities havingextremely cold weather. The monument l may obviously be made in variousshapes, other than the shape illustrated, without affecting its mode ofconstruction as illustrated in the drawings, and as heretoforedescribed, and various coloring agents and other substances may be addedto its composition to give it the appearance of different kinds of stoneand marble.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and mayberesorted to as only a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A concrete monument or tombstone including a body portion having anintegral enlarged supporting base, reinforcing rods molded into saidbody portion and disposed horizontally and perpendicularly thereof,certain of said rods extending into the base portion, a plurality ofperpendicularly disposed reinforcing rods molded into the base portion,and tubular reinforcing members molded in said base portion and disposedlongtiudinally and horizontally thereof, said tubular members beingdisposed on either side of said rods and in staggered relationshiprelatively to each other, and said tubular members having downturnedends.

2. A monument of cement or the like including a body portion andsupporting base, said monument being provided with reinforcing meansincluding horizontally and perpendicularly disposed reinforcing rods,and said reinforcing means also including pipes disposed longitudinallyin said base on either side of its recess, and

WILLIAM M. P. HALL.

